Contaminated Fill Legal Issues

Larry Schnapf Schnapf LLC Larry@schnapflaw.com

Fill Cases In The News

Valhalla's Contaminated fill dumper pleads guilty Framingham suing contractor over contaminated fill sent to Milford Briarcliff Manor families to sue schools over children's cancer deaths, cite contaminated fill Contaminated fill to be removed from farm land Palmer Couple Sue Company Over Gas-contaminated Fill They Say Home Was Devalued

Common Problematic Materials

Sediments/sludge Road Material Recycled/Crushed Concrete Bricks, Coal ash/MSW incinerator ash ACM RCRA Wastes Slags/tailings/foundry sand

Common Problematic Scenarios

unregulated fill at schools, playgrounds, daycares, and residential properties. Gravel pits Wetlands Farmland

Ongoing Challenge

Significant Volume of Historic Fill still being improperly managed Significant Volume Historic Fill is ending up in the inappropriate location Much fill moved beyond state jurisdiction Many developers look for deal on fill

Identification of Historic Fill Areas

Review of Historic Maps and Other Historical Data (e.g. Sanborn Maps) Review Site Assessments, Soil Borings, etc Information Review of information from National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Recent Caselaw

Imported Fill In the Matter of Hamburg Mills Creek Superfund Site U.S. Home v Settlers Crossing, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22653 (D. Md. 3/11/10) Knoll v. MTS Trucking, Inc., 2011Minn. App. Unpub. LEXIS 767 (Minn. Ct. App., Aug. 15, 2011) Woodcliff, Inc. v Jersey Construction, Inc, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125214 (D.N.J. 9/4/12) Collins v. Olin Corp, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39862 (D.Conn 2010) Lewis v. GE, 254 F. Supp. 2d 205 (D.Ma. 2005)

Recent Caselaw Contd

Exporting Fill Material Ford Motor Co. v. Edgewood Properties, 2012U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125197 (D.N.J. 8/31/12) Lowe's Home Centers Inc. v. Tetra Tech Inc. et al (D.N.H. 2012) Reuse/Spread On-Site US v Honeywell, 542 F. Supp. 2d 1188 (E.D.Ca. 2006) Bonnieview Homeowners vs. Woodmont Builders, 655 F. Supp. 2d 473 (D.N.J. 2009); Montville Twp. v. Woodmont Builders, LLC, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55932 (D.N.J. 2010)

Potential Statutory Liability

CERCLA Owner/operator/generator/transporter Release NCP RCRA Contained-in LDRs Corrective Action /7002 Actions CWA TSCA

Common Law

Trespass Nuisance Negligence Strict Liability Fraud Misrepresentation